Using only Down To Earth mixed bags

If you had access to peat moss, worm castings,compost, and aeration material for dirt mix, but only could use bio-live(5-4-2), bio-fish(7-7-2), and vegetable garden(4-4-4) mixes from DTE for dry amendments, how would you combine and use these?
Most start with fish bone meal, feather meal, and alfalfa meal, and then they have a mix of the other stuff they sell, just a pre-mixed bag with specific nutrient values.
And can you tell if it would lead to any deficiencies?
Maybe not ideal, but could you make a workable mix with these?

Only thing could see as maybe hard during flower with just those. All have N same or higher than your P.

Dreaming1 said:

If you had access to peat moss, worm castings,compost, and aeration material for dirt mix, but only could use bio-live(5-4-2), bio-fish(7-7-2), and vegetable garden(4-4-4) mixes from DTE for dry amendments, how would you combine and use these?
Most start with fish bone meal, feather meal, and alfalfa meal, and then they have a mix of the other stuff they sell, just a pre-mixed bag with specific nutrient values.
And can you tell if it would lead to any deficiencies?
Maybe not ideal, but could you make a workable mix with these?

Click to expand...

If you put this stuff in compost first, you will do well. You probably need to focus on a variety of rock dusts like Greensand, azomite, and basalt for the micronutrients. Either compost or worm bin would be your best bet.

these have rock dusts, and some crab,shrimp,and kelp. All of the ingredients, just mixed to a certain ratio. May be a good experiment for next summer.

Dreaming1 said:

View attachment 4612715View attachment 4612716View attachment 4612717these have rock dusts, and some crab,shrimp,and kelp. All of the ingredients, just mixed to a certain ratio. May be a good experiment for next summer.

Click to expand...

I would add Greensand at very least. It's a good source of Mn. If you are really planning on getting something ready for next year, you should compost this stuff. If you use these mixes with Greensand, you will be very proud. Every soil test I've had was low in Mn until I started using greensand. It's only like 10% soluble and it will take several months for the rest of it to break down. I found fish bone meal to be too high in P and it was causing iron issues, but if it's composted, no problem. I keep saying greensand because it's one of the very few inputs to get Mn from. Trust me, I've been dealing with Mn issues and have been trying to find ways to raise it since 2016.

I think that you are good with these, but using peat, I would use equal parts of Greensand. Greensand will help with Ph of the peat and give you Mn, Fe, K, and silica. I'm buying this stuff by the 50lb bag now. Anyways, I find that micronutrients are what's getting locked out most of the time.

Gonna use some greensand next round now

Polyuro said:

Gonna use some greensand next round now

Click to expand...

It's one of the few things that I buy in bulk. I use a diversity of rock dusts and produce in the worm bin. Anyways, I spend my money on Basalt, Azomite, and Greensand mostly. Also, making your own compost/worm castings will cut your bill way down. I've been trying to mix my own soil with the big bags of peat, but I always had problems with it until I ran it through the worm bin first. Right now, I'm rocking peat moss, rock dust, produce, and pure leaf mold(2 1/2yrs old). I came across Clackamas Coot's podcast on Kis Organics and he was talking about his worm bin and leaf mould.


I have a different method for indoor, but it also cost more money. For my outdoor mix: I got a trailer of produce for free, bought about 15 bags of peat, used 4 different rock dusts, and barley(Briess bag). When I planted in my 100gal pots, I topdressed with my 2 1/2yr leaf mould. It's all effort and just a little cash. You can make this stuff work with a good plan and willpower.

What I would do with the DTE boxes is get some grass clippings and tree leaves and mix it for a compost(Greensand if you can afford it). Mix it on the ground so that worms can get in it too and cover it with a tarp. Keep it moist and possibly turn it every 2 weeks and you will have something better than you can buy, seriously.

Anyways, look at what Greensand largest % of potassium, iron, and manganese(not magnesium) and look at the synergism on the chart. Greensand has just worked for me, but I also have to microdose with Manganese Sulfate in my water(indoor, not outdoor).

I'll grab some greensand and throw it all out.
Leaves are great. Most of my compost is leaves, the rest is grass/weeds and veggie waste.
I'm moving more towards an indoor plan with organic, but I don't know if I want the big pots and then dealing with the learning curve of change.

I love down to earth product line, I bought Bio live as well and I’ve noticed when using it as a top dress you do accumulate a little bit fungus and something that looks like a mycelium Web on top of the soil. I’m also starting to attract flies. No biggy seems like a legit product line, Have you looked into the seabird guano/rock salts They have heavy phosphorus numbers and look like good flowering products!
Cheers RiU

MustangStudFarm said:

It's one of the few things that I buy in bulk. I use a diversity of rock dusts and produce in the worm bin. Anyways, I spend my money on Basalt, Azomite, and Greensand mostly. Also, making your own compost/worm castings will cut your bill way down. I've been trying to mix my own soil with the big bags of peat, but I always had problems with it until I ran it through the worm bin first. Right now, I'm rocking peat moss, rock dust, produce, and pure leaf mold(2 1/2yrs old). I came across Clackamas Coot's podcast on Kis Organics and he was talking about his worm bin and leaf mould.
View attachment 4612967View attachment 4612968View attachment 4612969View attachment 4612971View attachment 4612972View attachment 4612973

I have a different method for indoor, but it also cost more money. For my outdoor mix: I got a trailer of produce for free, bought about 15 bags of peat, used 4 different rock dusts, and barley(Briess bag). When I planted in my 100gal pots, I topdressed with my 2 1/2yr leaf mould. It's all effort and just a little cash. You can make this stuff work with a good plan and willpower.

Click to expand...

I'd go with langbeinite over azmomite since it'll leave some bad metals in the bud if not used correctly. The safer route but Azomite is amazing